Growing group of residents and local elder take more steps towards a dream.
London Grove, PA – September 18, 2009 – Local residents seeking to build the first net-zero energy Ecovillage have made major strides in past months in realizing their goal. In July, two more households joined the growing group, and just this month, the group purchased their dream property from Edna Lamborn, longtime resident of West Grove. The 7.5 acre property is located on the corner of Prospect Avenue and West State Street, across the street from the proposed 125 acre community park, and is within walking distance of many restaurants, the library, and other businesses of downtown West Grove. The group proposes building 34 modestly-sized attached homes clustered around a pedestrian walkway, with organic gardens, native plantings, and architecture designed to complement the surrounding architecture.
New members Peter Kjellerup and Mandy Cabot, the owners of Dansko, are clear. “There are so many wonderful communities like this in Europe, that it is time that we demonstrate that an environmentally and socially sustainable community can be built here, as well. How wonderful it will be to have a community where people know and care about their neighbors, and at the same time, can live lightly on the planet.”Sandy Wiggins, former Chairman of the US Green Building Council and a principal of Aye Partners, explains “Choosing pedestrian-oriented smart locations in close proximity to community assets is a key factor for long-term sustainability. One of our country’s greatest challenges is changing our past patterns of development that make inefficient use of land and infrastructure and that are entirely dependent on the automobile.”
Steve and Joyce Ford, owners of The Perfect Cup Café in Hockessin, Delaware are enthusiastic about making Three Groves Ecovillage their new home. “We live right down the road from where the community is proposed to be built. We look forward to downsizing our house and pulling a few weeds in the community gardens right here in West Grove."
Edna Lamborn, who owned the property for many decades and donated 42 acres for the northern portion of the community park, was equally pleased. “West Grove has been a major part of our family’s life for many years and we all love the town and the people” said Mrs. Lamborn. “I would be pleased to be part of the first LEED Platinum community in Pennsylvania. Three Groves Ecovillage sounds like an exciting concept. I look forward to seeing the successful completion of the project and more new families enjoying life in West Grove.”
Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED provides a concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions. Three Groves Ecovillage will be seeking the highest rating of LEED Platinum.Land stewardship is a core value for future residents and partners of Three Groves Ecovillage. “Two-thirds of this site was degraded by previous use” says Jackie O’Neil, the other principal of Aye Partners. “We are looking to preserve the site’s assets, such as large trees and south-facing slopes, and restore the site’s soils, vegetation and hydrology, in order to demonstrate that smart neighborhoods of the future can actually enhance the health of the land and the greater community.” Another future resident, Janet Pelletier adds “I would like to become an active steward of the tiny stream that runs along the property to the pond in the park. We hope to work with neighbors and the park to plant native vegetation and trees to clean it up and provide habitat for wildlife.”
Public Events:
To get involved or just learn more, interested potential residents and public are encouraged to attend a variety of events:- The next monthly Three Groves Ecovillage Potluck is at 4:30 Sunday, September 27, at the West Grove Friends Meeting, 153 E. Harmony Rd, West Grove PA. The potluck will be followed by a land walk on the property (weather permitting), and a Q&A session.
- Moore College is holding a free Graduate Symposium entitled “Cohousing: Building Sustainable and Intentional Communities” from 9:00AM to 5:00PM on October 10 at Moore College in Philadelphia. The concepts and practicalities of cohousing in the United States will be discussed. Charles Durrett, architect and author of the seminal text on cohousing, will deliver the keynote presentation. Several shorter presentations by leaders in the field will follow, each of which will briefly discuss specific components and aspects of cohousing communities. The afternoon will consist of two sessions of workshops expanding upon the morning presentations.
- Janet Pelletier will be presenting at 6:30 Wednesday October 14, at the Downingtown Library, 330 E. Lancaster Ave. Downingtown, PA 19335-2946. She will give an overview of cohousing and ecovillages, and the Three Groves Ecovillage project. The presentation is free.
Media Coverage:
Media are welcome to attend the public events but asked to pre-register by contacting Three Groves Ecovillage (email using the link in the margin, or call 610-643-4411). Photos of the site and residents are available on request.
Three Groves Ecovillage is an organization of local people seeking to build and reside in an environmentally and socially sustainable neighborhood. They are actively growing and seeking new members.
Aye Partners, LLC, are leaders in sustainable development and green building, and have commissioned Re:Vision Architecture, a leading green design firm, to create the plans.
Margot Mohr Teetor, Realtor with Re/Max Town and Country, has worked as the Buyer’s Agent for Three Groves Ecovillage and will act as Seller’s Agent for Ecovillage homes listed online with the Multiple Listing Service (MLS).
About Dansko. Established in 1990, Dansko has been a leader in providing innovative comfort footwear while standing at the forefront of sustainable and ethical business practices. Dansko is an employee owned company based in Pennsylvania, still operated by its founders, husband and wife team Mandy Cabot and Peter Kjellerup. Dansko shoes and boots are distributed to over 2,500 premium U.S. and international retail locations. For more information on Dansko’s footwear collections as well as their global responsibility initiatives, please visit: www.dansko.com# # #
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